Bronz’s brave art

By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on March 14, 2020

A WINDOW into his soul is what Torbay artist Bronz Brown has been unintentionally creating over the past 20 years and he is opening it to the public for the first time this weekend at Vancouver Arts Centre.

I love you, I love you too, 4, 8, 16 is a culmination of more than two decades of paintings painted from within and out of manic bipolar episodes Brown has experienced since his late 20s.

Brown said everything is heightened during an episode and it gives him access to a higher level of inspiration.

“You’re in a pure state of creation,” he said.

“You’re a lot braver and more fearless … you can make something out of the chaos.”

Brown is excited to exhibit for his second time working solo, and said he is more than happy to speak with people about the exhibition at the official opening at 1pm on March 14.

His main aim with I love you, I love you too, 4, 8, 16 is “to create beauty and meaning out of the devastation that can be caused during my manic episodes”.

“Some of the works have gone through a 20 year process of destruction and rebirth, much like the turmoil of rebuilding your life after experiencing a break with reality,” Brown said.

“But this isn’t all about the hurt and processing that – it’s also about celebrating what can be made out of this journey into darkness and chaos.”

The opening of I love you, I love you too, 4, 8, 16 will be accompanied by live music from Xave Brown, a Q&A with Brown, and an exhibition of fashion designer Kirren Maddigan’s upcycled streetwear line.